1. Following nouns are always used in the singular form :-

a) Physics

b) Politics

c) Mathematics

d) News

e) Information

f) Furniture

g) Fruit

h) Hair

i) Scenery

j) Machinery

k) Innings

l) Luggage

m) Gallows

2. Following nouns are always used in the plural form :-

a) Cattle

b) Gentry

c) People

d) Shoes

e) Riches

f) Spectacles

g) Thanks

h) Vegetables

i) Trousers

j) Tongs

k) Scissors

3. Following nouns take both the singular & plural forms :-

a) Cannon

b) Deer

c) Dozen

d) Fish

e) Score

f) Sheep

g) Pice

Examples :-

These above mentioned examples can give you a little idea about the initial use of nouns.

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Correct Use of Verbs is very important for proper sense of a speech. Verbs can be classified into following three categories :-

A) Transitive Verb :- If a verb needs an object after it for completion then it is called a transitive verb.

For example :-

1) The boys ran a race.

2) I submitted the report.

3) They presented a dance.

B) Intransitive Verb :- If a verb does not need an object after it for completion then it is called an intransitive verb. Such verbs complete sense in themselves.

For example :-

1) The birds will fly.

2) The kid smiled.

3) I laughed.

C) Auxiliary or helping verb :- If a verb helps the main verb (the principal verb), it is called an auxiliary or helping verb. Following verbs are auxiliary verbs :-

is, am, are, will, shall, do, does, did, was, were, has, have, had, should, would, can, could, may, might, must, ought to, dare, need to etc. At times, the helping verbs act like principal verbs.

CONJUGATION OF VERBS :- There are 3 forms of the verbs viz. present, past and past participle.

Self Check:-

Examples :-

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Correct Use of Pronouns is vital for correct and meaningful speech. A word that is used instead of a noun is called a pronoun.

Look at this example :-

Ram is a boy. He is my friend.

Here “he” is used instead of Ram. So, he is a pronoun.

Pronouns can be classified into following 9 categories :-

1. Personal Pronouns ( I, we, you, they, he, she, it)

2. Interrogative Pronouns ( which, hose, whom, who, what )

3. Relative Pronouns( who, whom, that , which)

4. Distributive Pronouns( either, neither, each, none, any)

5. Demonstrative Pronouns ( this, that , these, those)

6. Indefinite Pronouns ( one, none, some, many, somebody, anybody, nobody, other, all, few)

7. Reflexive Pronouns( myself, himself, herself)

8. Reciprocal Pronouns( each-other, one-another)

9. Emphatic Pronouns ( myself, themselves, herself)

Correct use of Pronouns :-

Examples :-

NOUN – VERB – ADJECTIVE

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Prepositions are special words which are placed before nouns or objects in such a way that the words in the sentence get connected through a relation. So, proper knowledge of the use of prepositions is very important in English. Observe the following sentences and do look at the underlined words which are prepositions.

1. I came from Delhi to Bilaspur by bus.

2. Did you apply to the bank manager?

3. I shall do this work for you.

4. He came from Mandi.

5. The colour of this wall is white.

6. I went to bus stand to see off him.

7. Ram will go with me.

8. I can do this work without you.

9. Parents are respected by their children.

10. Put this pen in the box.

11. He threw the ball into the well.

12. Can you do this work within 2 days?

13. Ram complained against Mohan.

14. He sleeps towards the east.

15. He was surprised at my success.

16. Keep the book on the table.

17. The cat jumped upon the table.

18. He walked about the market.

19. Don’t worry about me.

Following examples will show you the correct use of Prepositions.

Examples :-

This was just a small overview of use of prepositions in speech on daily basis.

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Also called Direct – Indirect speech, narration is an important topic in English grammar. Official report writing requires a sound knowledge of indirect speech. In précis writing also it is equally important. Following information on the topic will throw light on the topic.

Direct Speech :- A sentence in the following format is called a direct speech :-

He said to me, “Mohan Plays football.”

This is a direct speech as it contains a comma and inverted commas.

Indirect Speech :- A sentence in the following format is called an indirect speech :-

He told me that Mohan played football.

This is an indirect speech as it has two clauses but it does not contain a comma and inverted commas.

Let us examine the direct speech :-

He said to me, “Mohan Plays football.”
<<------------->> <<----------------------------->>
<<-Reporting speech->> <<--Reported speech-->>
<<-Reporting verb->> <<--Reported verb-->>
<<--(said)-->> <<------------(play)---->>

From direct to indirect speech, the reporting verb changes as follows :-

Some important changes in the Reported Speech :-

Some examples:-

1. He said to me, “Mohan plays football.”

He told me that Mohan played football.

2. Ram said to me, “Mohan will visit Shimla.”

Ram told me that Mohan would visit Shimla.

3. He says to me, “Mohan plays football.”

He tells me that Mohan plays football.

4. The teacher said, “Honesty is the best policy.”

The teacher said that honesty is the best policy.

5. The headmaster said to the peon, “Ring the bell.”

The headmaster ordered the peon to ring the bell.

6. I said, “Bravo! I have won the match.”

I exclaimed with joy that I had won the match.

7. He said to me, “Do you play football?”

He asked me if I played football.

8. Father said to his son, “Who is knocking at the door?”

Father asked his son who was knocking at the door.

9. He said to me, “Good morning.”

He wished me good morning.

10. He said to me, “Good morning sir.”

He respectfully wished me good morning.

11. I said to him, “May you live long!”

I prayed that he might live long.

12. He said to me, “Don’t touch my bag.”

He warned me not to touch his bag.

ACTIVE VOICE & PASSIVE VOICE

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Active Voice :- When the subject does the work directly, it is called an active voice.

e.g. Mohan plays football.

Passive Voice :- When the work is said to be done by the subject, it is called a passive voice.

e.g. Football is played by Mohan.

WHY PASSIVE VOICE?

1. To understand newspaper headlines.

2. For official report writing.

3. For all legal works.

ACTIVE TO PASSIVE VOICE

General Rules:-

1. In the passive voice, only third form of the verb is used.

2. Subject and object are interchanged.

3. “by” is used before the subject.

4. The helping verbs of the “passive voice” depend on the tense of the active voice and the object of the active voice.

Example :-

Mohan plays football. [ACTIVE VOICE]
(subject) (verb) (object)

Football is played (verb 3rd form) by Mohan [PASSIVE VOICE]

Passive voice is not possible in case of following 4 tenses :-

1. Future Continuous Tense

2. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

3. Past Perfect Continuous Tense

4. Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Direct Speech and Indirect Speech

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You must have come across people blaming their poor Vocabulary for their low communication skills. Vocabulary building is a continuous process. A few words a day can help you build sufficient vocabulary in a few months. It is true that there are millions of words in English and no one can cram all the words nevertheless, better vocabulary is a choice which needs consistent efforts.

Techniques to build a strong memory :-

1. Love the language. Get interested in vocabulary.

2. Look around the items you use in your day to day life. Do you know their equivalent words in English? Get these words and start using them.

3. If you come across a new word, look up the word in dictionary. Learn to pronounce the word properly. Write this word on a note pad and look at it whenever you get time.

4. Watch English news and English movies.

5. Read any good English magazine on regular basis.

6. Keep a track of the words. Associate words with corresponding works.

For your convenience I am listing here the most common words. Use our dictionary service (on right hand sidebar, free dictionary search box) to see the word meanings.

And many more words that help you build your Vocabulary.

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Start taking advantage of the following sentences in your daily life. I have categorized the sentences for your convenience.

A) Paying obeisance

1. Good Morning.

2. Good afternoon.

3. Good evening.

4. Good night.

B) Complimentary

1. Thank you.
2. Thank you so much.
3. So nice of you.
4. I am honored.
5. Nice to see you.
6. Pleased to meet you.
7. The pleasure is mine.
8. See you.
9. Sure.
10. You are welcome.
11. You are most welcome.
12. Welcome.

C) For Home Use

1. Clean the room.

2. Dust the table.

3. Are you kneading the floor?

4. She is chopping the vegetables.

5. The gas is running out.

6. Pay your bills in time.

7. Answer the door.

8. What would you like to have tea or coffee?

9. The food is getting cool.

10. Lay the table,

11. Make the bed.

D) For Office Use

1. How are you?

2. How is the work going on?

3. Have you completed the project?

4. Where is Mr. Sharma?

5. Please meet me after the lunch.

6. Would you please help me out in this project?

7. I provide the best customer care service.

Tenses : Base Of The Grammar

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Idioms and phrases are basically group of words with a specific meaning. Each word in the group need not be understood as in totality, the meaning will be different in most of the cases. Nevertheless, any one who learns idioms & phrases definitely stands much higher than his contemporaries. I strongly recommend that you spend some time in learning these and you will get an easy opportunity to impress others as not many would be interested in walking an extra mile to master the art of idioms & phrases. Just see this example. You always say, “I am honest”. Now try saying this: I am above board. Are these two sentences same? Yes, they are. Now have fun. Just ask your friend, “Are you above board?” Chances are very bleak that he will understand this. I bet on it.

You are reading a newspaper and the head line is :-

“Mr. Sharma declared persona non grata by the Govt. of England”

Do you know what the news is all about? This means that one Indian official posted in England was declared unaccepted by the Govt. of England. The reason could be anything. But in such a case, the Govt. of India has to call back that officer and send a substitute whom that country considers fit for that particular job. Interesting. Isn’t it?

Now, here I am giving few very important idioms & phrases; details of which will be explained to you after your enrollment.

Idioms & Phrases

1. With abandon:

2. Abide by:

3. Abound in:

4. Above board:

5. Above criticism:

6. At an arm’s length:

7. At a stretch:

8. Account for:

9. Act up to:

10. Add insult to injury:

11. Admit of:

12. Air one’s opinions:

13. Apple of discord:

14. Apple pie order:

15. At random:

16. At large:

17. Attached to:

18. Attend on:

19. Atone for:

20. Augar well:

21. Back out:

22. To take a back seat:

23. Turn one’s back upon:

24. Back door:

25. Climb on the band wagon:

26. Bear down:

27. Bear out:

28. Beat about the bush:

29. Beat a retreat:

30. Have a bee in one’s bonnet:

31. Beggars description:

32. Bide one’s time:

33. In one’s birthday suit:

34. Blind alley:

35. Blow hot and cold:

36. Once in a blue moon:

37. Blunt the edge of:

38. Brain-wash:

39. Breakdown:

40. Break down:

41. Break out:

42. Break through:

43. Build castles in the air:

44. Eat one’s cake and have it too:

45. Call upon:

46. In camera:

47. Carry away:

48. Cast one’s lot with:

49. Catch napping:

50. In a cavalier manner:

51. Under a cloud:

52. Come up against:

53. Take up cudgels:

54. Cul de sac:

55. Cut somebody to size:

56. Keep somebody in the dark:

57. A dark horse:

58. Reach a deadlock:

59. A raw deal:

60. Give the devil his due:

61. Dog in the manger:

62. Down with:

63. Be down in the dumps:

64. Dress down:

65. Under duress:

66. Go dutch:

67. Scoundrel of the deepest dye:

68. Within earshot:

69. Move heaven and earth:

70. Of easy virtue:

71. Be on edge:

72. Put all one’s eggs in one basket:

73. End in smoke:

74. At the end of one’s tether:

75. An eye for an eye:

76. Give someone a black eye:

77. Have an eye for:

78. Pull a long face:

79. Face the music:

80. Fly in the face of:

81. Fall flat:

82. Fall through:

83. A passing fancy:

84. Few and far between:

85. To be fed up with:

86. Put out feelers:

87. Play second fiddle to:

88. Cut a sorry figure:

89. Twist some one round one’s fingers:

90. Play with fire:

91. Flash in the pan:

92. Demand one’s pound of flesh:

93. Flog a dead horse:

94. Swim with the flowing tide:

95. Return to the fold:

96. Put one’s foot down:

97. Put frills:

98. In full swing:

99. Out of the frying pan into the fire:

100. Gain time:

and many more idioms & phrases for you.

Tenses : Base Of The Grammar

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